Binh Dinh province established four task forces to assist the European Commission inspection team

Constant surveillance

Prior to the EC fourth visit to Binh Dinh province to conduct an inspection on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee, oversaw the arrangements and preparations at the Binh Dinh province's Fishing Port Management Board and the Binh Dinh province's Sub-Department of Fisheries.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh requested Quy Nhon Fishing Port and the Binh Dinh Province's Sub-Department of Fisheries to thoroughly review all product origin confirmation records, cooperate with Border Guard forces to conduct vessel inspections upon entering and exiting the port in accordance with regulations, manage vessel monitoring systems, cross-reference product extraction logs, ensure environmental sanitation activities, and deploy full-time personnel to prepare for the EC inspection team's visit.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh also instructed the Binh Dinh province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Border Guard, Provincial Police, and local governments to arrange full-time personnel in assist the EC inspection team.

According to the plan for the EC inspection team's visit, the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee established and dedicated four task forces to: vessel fleet management, product origin traceability, law enforcement, and logistical support for the EC inspection team.

Work schedule for the EC inspection team

As per the schedule, the EC inspection team will hold a meeting with the Management Boards of fishing ports in Binh Dinh province on the morning of October 13. The team will also observe product landing at various fishing ports, confirm procedures, inspect and monitor vessel entries and exits from ports, supervise the volume of products landed, and discuss with the Binh Dinh province's Fishing Port Management Board regarding product origin confirmation, vessel control records, and the monitoring of product volume traveling through the port. Additionally, the team will engage with the inspection and control departments responsible for overseeing fishing activities at the ports.

The EC inspection team will hold meetings with the Binh Dinh province's Sub-Department of Fisheries on the same morning. Accordingly, the team will inspect the control of fishing vessels violating in foreign waters; verify compliance with regulations regarding the registration and licensing of fishing vessels; compile lists of fishing vessels engaged in IUU violations, lists of fishing vessels at high risk of IUU violations, and related reporting responsibilities.

Furthermore, the EC inspection team will inspect the marking of fishing vessels and administrative penalty enforcement in accordance with Decree No. 42/2019-ND-CP; and verify the certification of origin for harvested seafood. The team will also work with the province's Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center to verify compliance with regulations on the installation of vessel monitoring systems, operational management, and data handling for disconnected fishing vessels that leave Vietnamese waters.

The EC inspection team will continue their activities on the afternoon of October 13 by inspecting a number of seafood processing companies in Binh Dinh province, whose main target export markets are located in Europe. Accordingly, the inspection team will review the documentation and processes for the certification of locally sourced ingredients and imported ingredients. The team will also directly inspect seafood processing plants that control the sources of imported ingredients for re-export.

Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee and local governments will arrange for the EC inspection team to visit the local community-assigned area on Kho Nho Island in Nhon Hai commune, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province on October 14. The same day's afternoon will see the EC Inspection Team depart for Hanoi.

In preparation for the EC inspection team's visit, Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee organized a working group to address the existing limitations in the implementation of local anti-IUU fishing activities. The group also provided guidance to reinforce personnel at fishing ports, the IUU Task Force under the Sub-Department of Fisheries, and border control stations to enhance inspection and control of fishing vessels entering and leaving the ports. Subsequently, the province aims to ensure that all of the fishing vessels comply with regulations when operating at sea and to monitor all of the catch made by fishing vessels with a minimum length of 15 meters upon unloading at the fishing ports.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh, the local government is focused on implementing drastic measures to resolve existing issues and fulfill urgent tasks in preparation for the EC inspection team with a strong determination to remove the IUU "yellow card".